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Notes:
According to the 1990 census data, 2,056 families lived on Vieques. In 2000, this number increased to 2,366.
Both the 1990 and 2000 census data include residents living on Navy lands and in the residential area.

Definitions:
Women between the ages of 15 and 44 are considered of childbearing age.
Children are residents who are 6 years old or younger.
The elderly includes all residents of age 65 and older.

Table 2.

Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Data for Vieques

Year

Name of Facility (as Listed in TRI)

Chemical Released

Air Releases(pounds per year)

1987

GE Co. Caribe

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

9,314

1988

GE Co. Caribe

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

8,400

1989

No data reported for the island of Vieques

1990

GE Co. Caribe

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

10,900

1991

Caribe GE Distribution Transformers Inc.

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

10,500

1992

Caribe GE Distribution Transformers Inc.

Copper

0

1993

Caribe GE Distribution Transformers Inc.

Copper

0

1994

Caribe GE Distribution Transformers Inc.

Copper

0

1995

Caribe GE Distribution Transformers Inc.

Copper

5

1996

GE Power Protection of PR

Copper

15

1997

GE Power Protection of PR

Copper

30

1998

GE Power Protection of PR

Copper

30

1999

GE Power Protection of PR

Copper

30

Source of data: EPA 1997, 2001.

Notes:
- The table lists only the air releases that facilities in Vieques reported to TRI.
- For reporting years 1987 through 1995, the "name of facility" is taken from one source of data (EPA 1997); for reporting years 1996 through 1999, it is from another (EPA 2001). Release data for more current years are not yet publicly available.
- TRI data are self-reported; the accuracy of the release data for individual facilities is not known.
- The TRI regulations require facilities in certain industries to disclose releases of specific hazardous chemicals and selected waste management activities. However, the regulations do not require that all facilities report, and do not address all contaminants, which is presumably why the table does not account for other emissions sources on Vieques. Therefore, the data in this table should not be viewed as a comprehensive emissions inventory for Vieques.
- Releases of zero pounds suggest that the facility manufactured, processed, or otherwise used the chemical in large enough quantities to trigger TRI reporting, but none (or less than 0.5 pounds per year) were estimated as being released to the air.

Table 3.

Summary of Air Exposure Pathways

Pathway Name

Exposure Pathway Elements

Time of Exposure

Comments

Potential Source of Contamination

Environmental Media

Point of Exposure

Route of Exposure

Exposed Population

Potential Exposure Pathways

Inhalation of contaminants in wind-blown dust when bombing did not occur (see Section V.A)

Wind-blown dust from the LIA

Air: transport from the LIA downwind to residential locations

Ambient air

Inhalation

Residents of Vieques

Entire history of Navy operations

Extensive sampling collected by PREQB has shown that levels of wind-blown dust on days without military training exercises are not of public health concern.

Inhalation of contaminants released on days when the Navy conducted military training exercises using only practice bombs (see Section V.B)

Military training exercises at the LIA using practice bombs

Air: transport from the LIA downwind to residential locations

Ambient air

Inhalation

Residents of Vieques

Exposures have only occurred on the days between April 1999 and May 1, 2003, when military training exercises occurred. This is limited to no more than 90 days per year.

PREQB has collected numerous air samples on days when the Navy conducted training exercises using practice bombs. These samples indicate that levels of particulate matter have not reached levels that could present a public health hazard on days when practice bombs are used. The air sampling results, combined with soil sampling data, also indicate that exposures to metals and explosives are not of health concern on days when practice bombs are used.

Inhalation of contaminants released on days when the Navy conducted military training exercises using live bombs (see Section V.C)

Military training exercises at the LIA using live bombs

Air: transport from the LIA downwind to residential locations

Ambient air

Inhalation

Residents of Vieques

Dates of bombing exercises between 1941 and April 19, 1999

Modeling analyses of reasonable exposure scenarios indicate that the military training exercises involving live bombs did not result in exposures at levels of health concern for all categories of contaminants considered, including particulate matter, chemical by-products of explosions, metals, and explosives.

Inhalation of contaminants released during open burning and open detonation (see Section V.D)

Open burning and open detonation of waste munitions and unexploded ordnance

Air: transport from the LIA downwind to residential locations

Ambient air

Inhalation

Residents of Vieques

On isolated days from at least the early 1970s through the present

Modeling analyses of reasonable exposure scenarios indicate that the limited open burning and open detonation activities have not resulted in exposures at levels of health concern for all categories of contaminants considered, including particulate matter, chemical by-products of explosions, metals, and explosives.

Inhalation of contaminants used sporadically during military training exercises (see Section V.D)

Past firing of depleted uranium penetrators and ongoing use of chaff.

Air: transport from the LIA (for depleted uranium) and in upper air winds patterns (chaff) downwind to residential locations

Ambient air

Inhalation

Residents of Vieques

Depleted uranium: limited to the date when the rounds of concern were used, and dates thereafter; chaff: on dates when the Navy uses the material during military training exercises.

Modeling analyses of reasonable exposure scenarios indicate that the amounts of depleted uranium that were fired at Vieques and the amounts of chaff that have been released to the air did not result in exposures (either chemical or radiological) at levels of health concern in the residential areas of Vieques.

Note: Indirect exposures to air contaminants in other media (groundwater, soil, biota) are being addressed in other PHAs.

Table 4.

Estimates of Annual Average Ambient Air Concentrations of Metals on Vieques When Military Training Exercises Do Not Take Place

Refer to footnotes at the end of the table before interpreting any of the data presented below.

Element

Average Concentration of Element in LIA Surface Soils (ppm, by weight)

Estimated Annual Average Air Concentration of Element in PM10 (µg/m3)

Health-based Comparison Value (µg/m3)

Type of Comparison Value

Aluminum

16,200

0.55

3.7

RBC-n

Antimony

1.14

0.00004

1.5

RBC-n

Arsenic

7.87

0.0003

0.0002

CREG

Barium

105

0.004

0.51

RBC-n

Beryllium

0.241

0.000008

0.0004

CREG

Boron

15.7

0.0005

210

RBC-n

Cadmium

1.71

0.00006

0.0006

CREG

Chromium

37.8

0.0013

5500

RBC-n

Cobalt

14.6

0.0005

0.1

EMEG-c

Copper

39.1

0.0013

150

RBC-n

Iron

33,500

1.1

1,100

RBC-n

Lead

8.49

0.0003

1.5

NAAQS

Manganese

723

0.025

0.04

EMEG-c

Mercury

0.0216

0.0000007

0.2

EMEG-c

Nickel

15.9

0.0005

0.2

EMEG-c

Scandium

12.5

0.0004

NA

NA

Selenium

1.23

0.00004

180

RBC-n

Strontium

156

0.0053

2200

RBC-n

Tin

4.87

0.0002

2200

RBC-n

Titanium

1,650

0.056

310

RBC-n

Vanadium

106

0.0036

0.2

MRL

Yttrium

20.8

0.0007

NA

NA

Zinc

47.5

0.0016

1100

RBC-n

Zirconium

59

0.002

NA

NA

Notes:
- The "average concentration of element in LIA surface soils" is taken from ATSDR's previous analysis of soils contamination (ATSDR 2001b).
- The "estimated annual average air concentration of element in PM10" is the product of the values in the first two columns.
- The "estimated annual average air concentration of element in PM10" was calculated by multiplying the annual average air concentration of PM10 in Esperanza (34.1 µg/m3, see Appendix C.1) and the average concentration of the element in LIA soils. This product was divided by 1,000,000 to convert the estimated concentration into units of µg/m3.
- The "type of comparison value" indicates the reference for the comparison value selected (see Appendix A). Abbreviations used in this field are:
CREG: ATSDR cancer risk evaluation guide
EMEG-c: ATSDR environmental media evaluation guide for chronic exposure
MRL: ATSDR Minimal Risk Level
NAAQS: EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standard
RBC-n: EPA Region 3 risk-based concentration for noncancer effects
- NA: Scandium, yttrium, and zirconium do not have relevant health-based comparison values.
- The comparison value for "chromium" is for trivalent chromium, not hexavalent chromium. See Section V.A for an interpretation of this selection.

Table 5.

Estimates of Annual Average Ambient Air Concentrations of Explosives on Vieques When Military Training Exercises Do Not Take Place

Refer to footnotes at the end of the table before interpreting any of the data presented below.

Chemical

Average PM10 Concentration at Esperanza(µg/m3)

Average Concentration of Chemical in the LIA Soils(ppm, by weight)

Estimated Annual Average Air Concentration of Chemical in PM10(µg/m3)

Health-based Comparison Value(µg/m3)

Type of Comparison Value

2-Amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene

34.1

0.62

0.00002

0.22

RBC-n

HMX

34.1

0.39

0.00001

180

RBC-n

Nitroglycerin

34.1

8.1

0.0003

0.45

RBC-c

RDX

34.1

0.41

0.00001

0.057

RBC-c

TNT

34.1

2.85

0.0001

0.21

RBC-c

Notes:
- The "average PM10 concentration at Esperanza" is based on the PREQB 2000-2002 sampling results (see Appendix C.1).
- The "average concentration of chemical in the LIA soils (ppm, by weight)" is the average concentration of explosives in soil samples collected at the LIA reported in the PHA on soil contamination (ATSDR 2001b).
- The "estimated annual average air concentration of chemical in PM10" is the product of the values in the first two columns.
- The "health-based comparison value" is a toxicity screening value (see Section IV.B and Appendix A for more details).
- The "type of comparison value" indicates the reference for the comparison value selected (see Appendix A). Abbreviations used in this field are:
RBC-c: EPA Region 3 risk-based concentration for cancer effects
RBC-n: EPA Region 3 risk-based concentration for noncancer effects

Table 6.

Ambient Air Concentrations of Particulate Matter in the Residential Areas of Vieques

Notes:
- Data Source: See Appendix C.1. The data in the table are based on sampling data and range utilization statistics compiled through October 2001. Refer to Table C-1 for a complete account of the sampling results collected since that time.
- Dates with "exercises using only practice bombs" were determined from Navy range utilization statistics. Dates on which air-to-ground or ship-to-shore firing of "non-explosive ordnance" were considered as being exercises using only practice bombs.
- ATSDR ran t-tests to determine if statistically significant differences existed between the average concentrations listed above. These tests revealed that the differences in TSP levels at Esperanza and Isabel Segunda and the differences in PM10 levels at Esperanza were not statistically significant (p-level > 0.05). At Isabel Segunda, the average PM10 concentration during training exercises using practice bombs was greater than the average concentration when no practice bombs were used (p = 0.0005).

Table 7.

Correlation Between Weight of Bombs Dropped and Air Sampling Results

Date

Total Weight of Non-Explosive Ordnance Used (tons)

24-Hour Average Ambient Air Concentrations Measured by PREQB (µg/m3)

TSP Concentrations in Esperanza

TSP Concentrations in Isabel Segunda

PM10 Concentrations in Esperanza

PM10 Concentrations in Isabel Segunda

8/4/00

0.67

51

No sample

50

No sample

8/16/00

7.03

78

30

No sample

23

10/15/00

2.39

32

24

22

11

5/1/01

1.13

25

24

22

12

6/18/01

12.75

57

No sample

55

39

8/2/01

5.85

45

31

39

No sample

8/3/01

4.80

36

No sample

30

No sample

8/4/01

2.77

56

No sample

47

33

8/6/01

34.01

25

18

22

14

8/7/01

19.06

87

69

77

60

8/8/01

6.17

124

105

No sample

94

9/28/01

12.89

40

43

32

28

10/4/01

1.14

50

51

50

47

10/10/01

0.06

No sample

No sample

No sample

26

10/11/01

0.28

39

43

33

30

10/12/01

8.42

54

No sample

39

34

Notes:
- Data on weight of practice bombs dropped are taken from the Navy's range utilization statistics (Navy 2002); air sampling data were provided by PREQB (see Appendix C.1). Total weight of non-explosive ordnance used equals the sum of the amounts used for air-to-ground and ship-to-shore exercises. The data in the table are based on sampling data and range utilization statistics compiled through October 2001. Refer to Table C-1 for a complete account of the sampling results collected since that time.
- "No sample" indicates that PREQB did not report a valid sampling result for the pollutant, date, and location indicated.
- The weight of practice bombs dropped on the LIA was essentially uncorrelated with the TSP concentrations at Esperanza (R2 = 0.000), the TSP concentrations at Isabel Segunda (R2 = 0.011), the PM10 concentrations at Esperanza (R2 = 0.002), and the PM10 concentrations at Isabel Segunda (R2 = 0.000).
- Data are presented for only those days when practice bombs were dropped and valid air sampling results were available. Practice bombs were dropped on additional dates not shown in the table, but no valid sampling results were collected on those days.

Table 8.

Estimated Annual Average Concentrations of Chemical By-products of Explosions in the Residential Areas of Vieques that Resulted from Live Bombing Exercises

Chemical

Estimated Annual Average Ambient Air Concentration (µg/m3)

Health-Based Comparison Value (µg/m3)

Type of Comparison Value

1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene

0.0000001

110

RBC-n

1,3-Butadiene

0.0000005

0.004

CREG

1,4-Dichlorobenzene

0.00000002

100

EMEG-c

2,4-Dinitrotoluene

0.0000003

7.3

RBC-n

2,6-Dinitrotoluene

0.00000003

3.7

RBC-n

2-Methylphenol

0.00000005

180

RBC-n

4-Methylphenol

0.00000004

18

RBC-n

4-Nitrophenol

0.0000002

29

RBC-n

Acetophenone

0.000001

0.021

RBC-n

Ammonia

0.00002

100

RfC

Benzene

0.00007

0.1

CREG

Benzo(a)pyrene

0.0000003

0.002

RBC-c

Benzyl alcohol

0.00000001

1,100

RBC-n

Biphenyl

0.000000004

180

RBC-n

Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

0.0000002

0.45

RBC-c

Butylbenzylphthalate

0.00000007

730

RBC-n

Carbon dioxide

0.1

9,000,000

REL

Carbon monoxide

0.0005

10,000

NAAQS

Carbon tetrachloride

0.0000005

0.07

CREG

Dibenz(ah)anthracene

0.0000001

0.00086

RBC-c

Dibenzofurans

0.0000001

150

RBC-n

Diethylphthalate

0.00000003

2,900

RBC-n

Dimethylphthalate

0.00000006

37,000

RBC-n

Di-n-butylphthalate

0.000006

370

RBC-n

Di-n-octylphthalate

0.0000001

73

RBC-n

Diphenylamine

0.000000006

91

RBC-n

Naphthalene

0.00001

10

EMEG-c

Nitric oxide

0.001

370

RBC-n

Nitrogen dioxide

0.0002

100

NAAQS

N-Nitrosodiethylamine

0.000000008

0.00002

CREG

N-Nitrosodiphenylamine

0.0000004

1.3

RBC-n

Phenol

0.000002

2,200

RBC-n

Sulfur dioxide

0.00002

80

NAAQS

Vinyl chloride

0.00000009

0.1

CREG

Notes:
- All estimated annual average ambient air concentrations are based on outputs from ATSDR's air quality modeling analysis (see Appendix D.3). The concentrations listed are the highest estimated levels in the residential areas of Vieques.
- Refer to Appendix D.3 for estimated ambient air concentrations for the 11 chemicals considered in the modeling analysis that do not have health-based comparison values. Estimated concentrations of these chemicals are all considerably lower than levels that air sampling methods can reliably detect.
- Refer to Appendix A for explanations of the abbreviations used to describe the comparison values.

Table 9.

Estimated Annual Average Concentrations of Metals in the Residential Areas of Vieques that Resulted from Live Bombing Exercises

Chemical

Estimated Annual Average Ambient Air Concentration (µg/m3)

Health-Based Comparison Value (µg/m3)

Type of Comparison Value

Aluminum

0.02

3.7

RBC-n

Antimony

0.000003

1.5

RBC-n

Arsenic

0.0000004

0.0002

CREG

Barium

0.00006

0.51

RBC-n

Beryllium

0.00000001

0.0004

CREG

Boron

0.0000008

210

RBC-n

Cadmium

0.00009

0.0006

CREG

Chromium (total)

0.00002

5,500

RBC-n

Chromium (hexavalent)

0.0000004

0.00008

CREG

Cobalt

0.0000006

0.03

EMEG-i

Copper

0.003

150

RBC-n

Iron

0.03

2,200

RBC-n

Lead

0.0001

1.5

NAAQS

Manganese

0.0007

0.04

EMEG-i

Mercury

0.00000001

0.2

EMEG-i

Molybdenum

0.0000004

18

RBC-n

Nickel

0.000006

0.2

EMEG-i

Selenium

0.00000005

18

RBC-n

Strontium

0.000007

2,200

RBC-n

Tin

0.0000002

2,200

RBC-n

Titanium

0.0001

31

RBC-n

Vanadium

0.000005

0.2

EMEG-a

Zinc

0.002

1,100

RBC-n

Notes:
- All estimated annual average ambient air concentrations are based on outputs from ATSDR's air quality modeling analysis (see Appendix D.3). The concentrations listed are the highest estimated levels in the residential areas of Vieques.
- Refer to Appendix D.3 for estimated ambient air concentrations for the metals considered in the modeling analysis that do not have health-based comparison values (e.g., calcium). Estimated levels of these chemicals are all considerably lower than air sampling methods can reliably detect.
- Refer to Appendix A for explanations of the abbreviations used to describe the comparison values.